James McCrae > Quotes

“My Ego said that I was a victim of circumstance. My Higher Self said that I create my own reality. My Ego told me to worry. My Higher Self told me to trust the present moment. My Ego said that everything was an accident. My Higher Self said that everything had a purpose. Find your ocean. “When Ego is lost, limit is lost.” — YOGI BHAJAN”
― James McCrae, Sh#t Your Ego Says: Strategies to Overthrow Your Ego and Become the Hero of Your Story

“Don't take rejection personally. Creatives should be like goldfish: have a very short memory. If it doesn't open, it's not your door. Let it go. Keep it moving. It's not rejection, it's redirection.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Art is alchemy that transmutes pain into beauty. Engaging in any creative practice is a healing modality that awakens the inner child and purges stuck energy. It’s not about being good at creativity. It’s about creativity being good for you.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Paying attention is buying reality. Invest your awareness wisely.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Sometimes things need to fall apart so something better can fall into place. Every breakdown is an opportunity for a breakthrough.”
― James McCrae

“If the artist cannot find the way, the way cannot be found.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Being an artist means trusting an inner vision that nobody else can see. When you follow your dreams instead of the crowd, it can be a lonely path. But what you gain is far greater than what you lose.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“According to the Zen monk Shunryū Suzuki, if your mind is empty it is always ready for anything. It is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Searching for God is like a fish searching for water. We don't notice that which is everywhere.”
― James McCrae, How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis

“The more we remain quiet and listen to nature and intuition, the more clarity and power our words will carry when we finally speak.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“You’re living your inside your own mind 24/7. Make it a loving place to be.”
― James McCrae

“Whatever we place our attention on will manifest as our perceived reality”
― James McCrae, Sh#t Your Ego Says: Strategies to Overthrow Your Ego and Become the Hero of Your Story

“Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe to put your guard down and be the weirdest version of yourself. Life is too short to compromise your authenticity in exchange for approval.”
― James McCrae

“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
― James McCrae

“In the event that you wake up
and find your soul separated from source
and manifest into material form, don’t panic.
Your condition is only temporary.
You have been selected for the opportunity
of human incarnation.
This 3D simulation is designed
to break up the monotony of eternity
by giving you a fully immersive experience
as a distinct ego identity.
Your body will serve
as your physical avatar
as you navigate a dense and dramatic reality.
There will be many distractions
causing you to forget your true nature and origin.
You will experience a range of emotions
from joy to loneliness to despair.
But remember – no matter
what trials and traumas you encounter,
your soul remains perfectly safe.
At times you may feel lost or afraid.
This is totally normal.
If you ever need guidance,
simply slow down your busy mind
and bring your awareness
to the quiet place
inside yourself.
On this planet, nothing is permanent.
People and things will come and go.
You will fall in love and form sentimental attachments
only to lose everything you hold dear.
So cling to nothing too tightly, even yourself,
and when it’s time to let go, let go with grace,
for nothing is owned, only borrowed.
As you walk among
the people on the planet,
try to be a good guest.
Tread lightly. Remember
that you are only visiting.
Don’t make a mess.
Listen more than you speak.
Give more than you take.
Don’t keep your soft heart
locked inside a glass cage,
protected from wear and tear.
You’ll never make it out alive
and time passes quickly.
So come back with some battle scars
and good stories to tell.”
― James McCrae

“Intermittent fasting is also a good way to notice the relationship between diet and consciousness.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“The curse of the poet is to see everything and be unable to do anything about it.”
― James McCrae, How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis

“Your life purpose starts wherever you are. You can’t wait for circumstances to be perfect because they never will be. The first step toward every dream was taken by somebody who was stuck in an environment they did not choose. You must begin living your purpose before your environment adapts. It’s almost like a cosmic test. “Can you live your purpose even when circumstances are not ideal?”
― James McCrae

“Our instinct is forged by experience. The goal is not to always succeed, the goal is to master the game, and failure is an essential lesson on the road to mastery.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Anyone can become stronger, both physically and creatively.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Intentions are the well from which we draw the water of inspiration. The deeper the well, the more water we find.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Creativity is about being an independent thinker. You don’t need tremendous talent; you just need the courage to question conventional wisdom.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“The irony is that everything falls into place when you stop trying to micromanage the process and allow life to unfold without force or expectations.”
― James McCrae

“When setting an intention, consider the following questions: Why do I feel compelled to create? What are my ultimate goals? What thoughts and emotions do I want to inspire in others? What impact do I want to make on society? How do I want this project to help me grow? What magic and medicine do I wish to offer the world?”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Every single cell in your body is in a constant state of death and regeneration. The moon moves in cycles. So do we. Don't limit yourself to being the person you have always been.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“Brevity is the gateway to clarity.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“The true measure of success is a calm nervous system.”
― James McCrae

“The better you know yourself, the more clarity you'll have as an artist.”
― James McCrae, The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

“I want to live without needing to impress others or defend myself, like the sunlight which greets each person the same, without prejudice for where it shines.”
― James McCrae

“The point of listening to music is not to reach the end. The point is to enjoy the music as it plays. Life is the same way. Happiness isn’t about reaching a final destination. Happiness means finding joy in each passing moment.”
― James McCrae, Sh#t Your Ego Says: Strategies to Overthrow Your Ego and Become the Hero of Your Story